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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE:  REBUILDING AND RESTORATION

I was reading Nehemiah and started thinking about the ruins of Jerusalem. From that I went to how our lives sometimes have broken down wall and damaged gates. The ruins tell a story of the past. The bad things that have happened. But God knows how we can come from the broken past to be restored. He can take the ruins and turn them into a fortress and a test into a testimony.

Nehemiah 2:17-18 Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach. 18 Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.

God restores the broken heart of mankind. He looks at our past, the messes we have made of life and he will restore it to something better than before it was broken. It doesn’t matter how broken; nothing is beyond his ability to repair. He is in the restoration business.

Psalm 147:3 He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.

We cannot allow the enemy to stop the progress of restoration. It will take trust and belief on our part to make restoration possible.  God is not overwhelmed by the size of the task or what we may consider to be intimidating. Our hope is in God and God alone. He can do miracles with our broken lives.

The walls of Jerusalem lay in ruins from years of neglect after the people were taken into captivity. This is sort of like the church of today. Many have been taken captive to a foreign land of complacency and watered down doctrines. We have neglected our foundation. But foundations can be repaired and we too can rebuild. It will take a determined people with a mind to work. We will have to keep our sword, which is the word of God on our side. Progress is made one brick at a time on the wall. The restoration of the church will happen one soul at a time. Progress may seem slow, but we will reach the lost if we don’t give up.

God knows our hearts if we have a desire to work for him, he will give us opportunities. God gave Nehemiah favor with the king. He too will give us favor with someone who can help us accomplish the work we have to do.

But just as God gives us help and favor the enemy will send people to hinder our work. Sanballat and Tobiah were not in favor of the walls of Jerusalem being rebuilt. First, they acted like they were Nehemiah’s friends. They tried to discourage him.  When that didn’t work, they mocked and made fun to discourage him. When that didn’t work, they came against him and those with him to try to stop them.

Anytime that we try to do something for God the enemy will try to send people our way. This is why it is so important to have a good circle of friends that will come along side of you and try to help you. They will encourage you and help you with your vision. We all need people in our corner to help us.

But we have to be determined that we will follow Christ even if we have to do it alone. We rebuild the church by asking God to give us his vision for the body. Ask him to rebuild us to not our former glory, but to match his vision. What does God want to restore in you? What does he want you to rebuild? We can figure it out if we pray and wait on the Lord. He will give us the vision we need.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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